Beneath the Lilac Tree

by archangelBBQ

"Been there, done that." It's been many years, but Mai and Naru finally meet again. Or has it? Moving forward this time, Naru is determined to change the past, even if he cannot predict how it will shape their future. Together the twins, Mai, and Lin will create SPR from scratch, though things are certain to be much different this time around.

14. Part XIV

Part XIV

He would be the first to concede it had been a long week. Gene closed his eyes and massaged his temples with his fingertips, leaning forward to rest his elbows against his desk. Nothing had happened at the office. Once again, they'd had a quiet week with no enquiries. Still, they'd been busy in every other aspect. First and foremost was his brother's imminent return to England. His adopted parents had booked the flight for early the following week, so he had only three full days before his twin left to return to university classes, coursework and no doubt the curiosity from the entirety of the British Society for Psychic Research. Gene frowned as he thought. He wasn't sure quite what it was, but there was something bothering him about Noll's return to their home country. He'd hoped that if he didn't think about it too hard it would come to him, but so far he was only left with a vague uneasiness.

The days had not passed idly. Noll was reading as much as ever, and when he didn't have his nose buried in a book or glued to a screen the two would test the limits of their newfound telepathy. After only four days both had become quite good at opening or blocking off the connection with ease. As they'd suspected, distance did not seem to matter.

In fact, Gene had not spent very much time at the office in the past few days at all, instead preferring to visit different libraries across the Tokyo metropolitan area and checking in on Noll periodically via their telepathic bond. They'd found several new resources this way as his brother had never scoured the area libraries for Japanese texts before, knowing he would not be able to fully read them. It took considerable effort, first to even find the books hidden in the stacks. Gene would scour the historical records, and with a combination of telepathy and Noll's psychometry, they were able to single out the books of interest. Noll then undertook the task of reading and translating them alone, as Gene's Japanese reading was quite limited and Noll refused to ask for assistance from Lin or Mai. Rather than being daunted, his brother was invigorated by the challenge. Noll was nothing if not dedicated to their work.

Mai was also suddenly inundated with end-of-term schoolwork and had, for the time being, reluctantly agreed to stop making meals for the four. She had instead taken to coming to the office after school to do her homework, though she would sort the mail and answer the phone while she was there. Meanwhile, she'd continued her qigong training with Lin, which was obviously tasking though she was reluctant to admit it. His brother was concerned about the progression of her abilities—not that Gene wasn't—but Noll was leaving the country while he himself would remain by her side.

Gene very much hoped their telepathy would work as effectively across the globe. He saw no reason why it wouldn't—considering they were linked through the spiritual realm rather than the physical—but he didn't want to have to discuss Mai's progress aloud. He knew that eventually, no matter how careful they were, someone was bound to overhear. For now, at least, the brothers kept abreast of her training as Lin reported to the twins daily over breakfast how the morning session had gone. Lin had just begun to teach Mai how to shield herself from absorbing residual psychic energy around her—first to recognize it, second to prevent herself from taking in too much at a time—and although it was slow going, Lin was convinced she was making progress.

"What's wrong?"

Gene did not need to open his eyes to know his brother was watching him with mild interest. He shook his head wordlessly and his twin shrugged, turning back to his papers. "What time is it?"

"About quarter to four," Noll answered. He paused, considering the time. "Mai should be here soon."

Gene opened his eyes and straightened, rubbing his hands vigorously through his hair. "I'm not sure if I should say already or it's about time," he murmured to himself.

Noll looked annoyed, a frown tugging on his lips as he turned over a paper and skimmed the reverse side. Gene felt a gentle probing at his mind as his twin considered him, trying to assess his emotions. "Seriously, what is it?"

"Nothing." Gene said shortly, and then sighed, feeling his brother's palpable displeasure. "At least nothing I can put into words."

Noll lifted his eyes to gaze at his brother seriously, unblinkingly. "Can you show me, then?"

Gene shifted slightly in his seat so he was sitting sideways, resting his elbow against the back of the chair and brushing his thumb against his lips. "It's probably nothing." He closed his eyes and rested his head against his hand. "I'm tired."

"Then take a nap."

"I don't need a nap," Gene said stubbornly, to which his brother shrugged but remained silent, returning his gaze to the papers on his desk.

Gene exhaled loudly, shifting again in his seat and pulling his leg toward his chest, resting his head on his knee and turning his annoyed stare at the papers on his desk: papers his twin had asked him to read. He wished he'd gone instead to the library in Kamagaya that afternoon as originally planned. Instead, he was stuck in the quiet office, trying to catch up to Noll's unparalleled knowledge and unbelievable memory of what had been published on the supernatural. It was frustrating, to say the least, knowing Noll was reading new material while he read theses and articles his brother had read and made his own opinions—no doubt sometimes opposing—years ago. It was unnatural and almost cruel, Gene thought, glancing at his twin in irritation, that he should have such good memory.

Noll looked up when he heard the office door open and was about to rise when Gene spoke. "It's only Lin back from his errands."

His twin paused in his movements but stood anyway. "I need to ask him about the Chinese reading of this kanji. It's not in the dictionary."

Gene nodded and watched his brother leave their office from his peripheral vision, blowing his bangs off his forehead when they fell into his eyes. "I need a haircut," he mumbled to himself, rubbing his forehead with his hand and closing his eyes. He was vaguely aware of his brother and Lin's conversation in the other room, though he wasn't interested in the obscure kanji or the peculiar usage in the text. Their voices faded and he found himself falling and sinking into the dream, the muted darkness washing over him.

He stood in the doorway between the kitchen and the dining room at their home in suburban London. In front of him, his father and brother were eating breakfast in silence. Noll was sipping his tea and staring out the window while his father paged through the morning newspaper.

He heard the approaching footsteps behind him and quickly stepped out of the way as his mother hurried through the door, her features etched with worry. In her hand she gripped a portable phone tightly. "Martin, Gene hasn't called in two days now and he isn't answering his mobile."

His father looked up, but his unfazed brother was the one who spoke first. "I'm sure he's just busy, Mum," he said blandly, but his voice was unable to soothe her.

"Noll's right, Lu," his father tried. "When he first arrived he didn't call for several days because he was tired, isn't that right? I'm sure there's an innocuous explanation. Perhaps he lost his phone charger and hasn't bought a new one yet."

"He's always careless that way," Noll muttered in a bored tone.

Luella pursed her lips and looked away, passing the phone between her hands repeatedly. "You're right," she finally said, exhaling as her shoulders drooped in defeat. "I'm sure you're right." She shook herself slightly and glanced at the clock, frowning when she saw the time. "Noll, you'll miss your train if you don't hurry," she said lightly, turning on her heel, pulling several packed lunches from the kitchen refrigerator and setting them on the counter. There were only three, but somehow Gene knew she'd accidentally made four out of habit the night before. "I can't give you a ride if you miss it because I have to be at school early today," she called.

Noll sighed as he looked up, turning lazy glance toward the clock before rising slowly to his feet. Gene would have laughed aloud to see the petulant look on his brother's face if it weren't for the feeling of dread gnawing in his stomach.

Gene followed his brother silently as he left the dining room. Noll walked down the narrow hallway toward their bedrooms, his socked feet padding softly against the wooden floors. He watched his twin gather his things, wondering if he was wrong to be nervous. Noll bent by his bookshelf, searching the titles and frowning when he did not find the book he sought. Rising to his feet, he went to the side door which connected their two bedrooms. He opened the door without hesitation and stepped into the unlit bedroom. Gene watched him as he crossed the room and searched the bookshelves. Noll then approached the cluttered desk, pushing aside papers and pulling open the desk drawers, frowning when he did not find what he was looking for.

Gene knew what he was thinking. Why take that book with you, you idiot? It was practically written across his twin's features. I know you're not going to read it. Noll exhaled, leaning against the desk chair and folding his arms across his chest. He pushed himself fully upright, crossing the room, reaching for Gene's best button-down shirt, freshly pressed and ironed, hanging innocuously on its hanger on the hook at the back of the door.

His brother's body froze as his fingers touched the fabric, eyes widening, suddenly blind to his surroundings as his psychometry latched onto the thread of a memory from across the world. All color drained from his already pale face and his rigid limbs began to tremble. Gene heard a sudden rushing in his ears as Noll's legs buckled beneath him, the boy just managing to catch himself with his arms. Gene thought that Noll suddenly appeared very small. Echoing his distress, all the objects in the room began to shake.

It'd been a long time since he'd seen his twin lose control. Books tumbled from the shelves as if the house itself were shaking, the wooden furniture rocking and wobbling unsteadily against the floor. A ceramic mug of pencils teetered at the edge of the desk before crashing into pieces on the floor. The light bulb popped in the fixture and Gene jumped when the windows shattered behind him, the glass passing through his insubstantial body, bouncing and tinkling as the shards hit the floor.

The rushing in his ears cleared just enough that Gene was able to hear another agonized sound, though it took him a moment to realize it was his brother's howling voice, screaming in anguish, pain and despair. It was something Gene never should have heard; something he neverwanted to hear.

Luella was there in an instant, throwing open the door and rushing inside on shaky legs. She fell to her knees, pulling the boy off the floor and gathering him into her arms. "Noll," she cried, tears streaming down her cheeks and dripping onto his silky hair, cradling his head to her chest. "Noll!"

Martin was there close behind her, kneeling beside the two with one hand on Luella's shoulder and the other on his son's back, his face pained and anxious. And still Noll continued to scream, hands weak at his forehead, his eyes wide and glassy as tears fell down his cheeks. His parents must have connected the dots by now. Surely Luella knew; had known as soon as she heard him scream. And Martin: the man looked utterly lost. Gene had never seen his father appear like this before, desolate and weary. Martin certainly knew by now as well. There was only one thing in the world that could make Noll react like that. His better half was never coming home.

No—

Noll's voice broke and he began to sob, his hands clenched in his hair as Luella rocked him gently back and forth in her arms, crying silently. The shaking in the room began to subside, but it felt as if someone had pulled the curtains shut, blocking out any light and warmth that had the means to drive away the dark despair.

Don't leave me, don't leave me here, by myself, all alone—

"Never," Gene said aloud, his voice breaking. "I could never—" He realized his hands were tightly clenched into fists and he exhaled, trying to release them. He shut his eyes tightly, shuddering when he felt tears slip down his cheeks.

This never even happened. Not really.

The thought struck him violently and a sob escaped his lips, echoing the sound of his weeping brother. "Yes it did," he whispered, trembling. "It happened. Martin or Luella might not remember this, but Noll lived this. This time existed." Gene covered his ears with his hands, desperately trying to block out the despairing sounds. His family, as broken as the glass that littered the floor. Because of him. Because he'd been careless. Because his pride was just as bad as his egotistical brother's.

"No more," Gene whispered frantically. He was swimming against the tide of guilt that threatened to pull him under. He shook himself fiercely. "This is a dream. I'm not dead anymore."

The words were an incantation and Gene felt the vision slip off him, freeing him from its grasp. He kicked his legs, struggling upwards from the depths of the darkness and shaking himself awake. Sitting up at his desk, he opened his eyes to see his twin gazing at him with stoically.

"What?" he asked testily. He didn't want to talk about what he had seen.

"You had a vision," Noll said softly, his tone slightly accusatory as if he didn't think his brother would admit to the fact without prodding.

Gene rubbed at his eyes with his fingers. "Yeah," he admitted. "I saw something that didn't happen a long time ago."

His brother tensed at the words. Staring into his eyes, the scream he'd heard echoed in his mind and drifted into the space that only the two of them could hear.

"You want me to show you?" Gene blurted, but even as he opened his mouth he wished he could have stopped himself from uttering the words, realizing immediately how callous they were.

"No." Noll's eyes hardened and his voice dropped suddenly, barely above a whisper. "You don't need to. I remember well enough," he said, turning his back on his brother. He placed the papers he held on his desk and crossed the room to return to the reception area.

"Noll," Gene pleaded.

Noll paused in the doorway, turning toward him and closing the door behind him so Lin could not overhear. "Don't apologize," he said, his tone level and his composure once again firmly in place. "It's something you should know. I'll admit, looking back, the only mistake I've made in all this was the way I showed you what happened. I should have completely opened our psychic connection from the very beginning. I should have shared everything I've seen and experienced from the start."

"No," Gene started quietly, closing his eyes as he tried to focus his thoughts into words. Opening them again, he fixed a steady gaze on his twin. "You don't need to share everything with me, Noll. You shouldn't. I didn't realize that at first. It's not fair to you to ask you to divulge everything." His brother looked as if he were about to speak but Gene cut him off. "I've been childish," he said quietly. "You think I've told you everything I've ever done when we've been apart?"

At this Noll faltered somewhat. "It's not comparable."

"Maybe," Gene said dubiously, tilting his head. "Maybe not."

"And yet you continue to have visions of that non-existent time," Noll said, frowning as he crossed his arms against his chest and leaned against the desk. "Wouldn't it be easier if you simply let me show you everything?"

"That's not the issue," Gene said slowly, coming around his desk to sit next to his brother, leaning so close so that their arms touched. "Anything I might remember will be because I was there with you. Because my spirit was," he corrected himself. "I don't think I should see anything that happened when I wasn't." He exhaled and draped an arm loosely around his brother's stiff shoulders. "So, no. I don't want you to let me look into your memories, Noll." His lips quirked into a small grin. "Besides, isn't it more fun to wait and see what I'll be able to remember on my own?"

Noll remained silent. Gene watched his brother's profile, his lips pursing slightly as he thought. "As you wish," he finally agreed with slight resignation.

Both turned their heads as they heard the phone ring in the main office, though it was cut short before it could continue. Gene straightened, rising to his feet. "Mai must have just arrived." His brother regarded him curiously, an eyebrow raising as he considered him. "It's a case," he continued, crossing the room and opening the door.

Noll followed him to the reception, turning his gaze to where Mai stood. She leaned over her desk, the phone held to her ear and pencil hovering above the writing pad she had reserved for taking messages. She was still wearing her jacket over her school uniform and her school satchel sat on her chair, partially hidden behind a canvas shopping bag. Gene was right: it was evident she'd only just arrived as the phone rang.

"Yes, sir," she said politely. "Let me make you an appointment for a consultation. Next week—yes, Wednesday is fine." As she said this, her face fell and she looked up, searching for Naru's gaze. Her chestnut-colored eyes were both sad and apologetic, knowing he would not be there in the office with them to meet the client. "Yes. We'll see you at four o'clock. Thank you. Yes. Yes, please do."

Naru glanced at his brother, watching him as he sat down on the sofa.

"Thank you very much, Kanegae-san. We'll wait for your confirmation. Please ring again if you need to reschedule. We look forward to meeting you. Until then." Mai placed the phone back on the cradle, straightening her back and picking up the writing pad. "Kanegae Yuuto," she said, crossing the room and passing her notes to Naru for his review, "from Okimi town. I don't know exactly where it is but he said it's near Hiroshima. He's going to be in Tokyo next week, Wednesday only, so he'll come by the office that afternoon."

"Rural property in Okimi-cho," Naru read. "Strange sounds, the dogs won't stop barking, the hired help and volunteers see apparitions in the orchard at night."

"Just the usual suspects," Gene said, yawning.

Naru passed the pad to his brother. "This'll be your case, Gene. If you take it."

"Yeah, yeah," Gene said, pushing himself off the sofa and crossing the room to replace the notepad on Mai's desk by the phone. "You wouldn't?" He asked his brother with a laugh, raising an eyebrow before turning back to Mai, watching as she rummaged in her shopping bag. "What do you have there?"

"I stopped by the supermarket on my way here," Mai said with a bright smile, producing a packaged chocolate sponge cake. "We needed coffee but look what I found on sale!"

"Just what I needed," Gene breathed, a delighted smile lifting his lips. "Don't suppose you want any, Noll?"

"No," Naru said shortly.

"I bought the dark chocolate, Naru," Mai said, bringing plates and forks from the kitchenette and setting them on the low table by the sofa. "If that makes any difference."

He hesitated. "Then maybe a little," he conceded, sitting down on the sofa.

Mai looked pleased with herself. "I'll make some tea," she said with a smile.

"Coffee for me, please?" Gene asked, taking the cake to the table and sitting in one of the plush, comfortable chairs, slipping off his shoes and bending his knees so his feet rested on the edge of the seat.

"Of course. I also bought some mikans, do you want any?"

Naru's facial expression lightened as he relaxed. "I'll have a couple."

"Mikan?" Gene asked, unfamiliar with the word.

"Um," Mai closed her eyes and scrunched her nose as she thought, her index finger hovering and pointing in the air. "In English they're called... satsuma, I think."

"Satsuma oranges or satsuma mandarin," Naru elaborated, folding his hands in his lap.

"I'll bring them to the table." Mai knocked gently on Lin's partially-closed door. "Lin-san," she called. "Can I interest you in some tea and cake?"

"Please," Lin said as he came out of his office, holding an envelope and a creased paper in his hand. "Noll," he started quietly.

"What is it?"

Lin hesitated, moving his gaze between the twins. "I received a letter from my mother. Apparently my grandmother's taken it in her mind to get her passport renewed. So she can come to Japan."

Naru frowned. "Why?"

Lin shook his head. "She didn't say."

Holding a tray of steaming teacups in one hand and a bowl of the satsumas in the other, Mai glanced between Lin and Naru curiously as she placed them on the table, passing the tea out before serving the cake onto small plates. "Your grandmother, Lin-san? Why is it so unusual that she should come here?"

"Well," Lin paused, nodding his thanks as he took the proffered plate. "My grandmother doesn't really travel anymore."

"She didn't come to your wedding," Naru stated, reaching for a satsuma and peeling it easily, dividing the fruit in half and passing one to his brother.

Lin nodded. "My parents can barely get her to cross the bridge from Liu To village to visit Kwai Chung city where the rest of the family lives. She certainly wouldn't come to this country just to see me. And that she wants to have a discussion in person is surprising. Usually she sends her messages through her shiki."

"Oh, your grandmother has shiki, too?" Mai asked.

"Of course," Lin said. "She's the head of our family, after all. She's the one who taught me."

"Oh," Mai said, her mouth dropping open in surprise. During her own training sessions with the man, she'd absently wondered who Lin's teacher might have been, but she would not have guessed it to be his grandmother.

"She gave some of her spirit familiars to you, didn't she?" Gene asked, lifting an eyebrow at Lin as he raised his coffee to his lips.

"Yes, she passed two of her own shiki to my servitude when I became of age." Lin said. He frowned, folding the letter and placing it on the table, picking up the cup of tea Mai had placed before him and shaking his head. "Yesterday Aahil said he felt something, he and the rest of my shiki. Something among the spirit familiars, some kind of tremor on the spiritual plane. None of my shiki know what to make of it and neither do I, but my grandmother will. She's no doubt aware of whatever's happened, and the reason for her visit is certainly linked."

Naru glanced at his brother. "Is that why you've been so uneasy today?"

Gene leaned back into the sofa and absently scratched his neck with his hand. "No," he started slowly. "At least I don't think so."

Mai bit her lip, meeting Naru's gaze nervously as he turned his eyes on her. "What about you, Mai?" He asked softly.

"I haven't felt anything," Mai said, turning the small fruit over in her hands nervously. "Really."

"It may be nothing," Lin said, portioning off a bite of the cake and holding it on his fork, considering the dessert as he spoke. "It's just strange that my grandmother is coming and I wanted to let you know. That's all."

...

Instead of a home-cooked meal that evening, the quartet went out to eat at a small French bistro a few blocks away from the office in Dogenzaka. Gene impressed Mai as well as their Swiss waitress by speaking French, first ordering their meals in the language and then flirting with the young woman as she brought tea and bread. It wasn't a surprise to hear him speak it—after all, Mai knew Luella taught French at a private school in Enfield, a northern borough of London; the woman had once told Mai that the first thing she'd done when the adopted twins came to their new English home was to teach them the language. Mai remembered Luella's sad smile when she recalled how much Gene loved speaking French with her. The Englishwoman hadn't elaborated but it was clear it was something special the two of them had shared. Mai was drawn out of her reflections when Naru rolled his eyes as his brother tried to carry on a conversation with him, giggling in spite of herself.

"You're being immature, Gene," Naru said. "It's not fair to carry on a conversation when Mai and Lin can't understand us."

"I don't think Lin cares if we talk about the weather or whatnot," Gene retorted. "Besides, Aahil can translate for him if he really wants to know. And I think Mai would like to see you show off. Unless you haven't spoken it in fifteen years and have forgotten it all. Maintenant, mon cher frère, ce ne serait pas une disgrâce?" He gazed at his brother first with amusement, and then with annoyance when his twin refused to answer him. "Sérieusement, Noll, tu sais à quel point il aurait été à Luella, tu N'as jamais parlé avec elle comme ça?"

"It wouldn't have been the same if I spoke in French and you know it. You're the one who wants to show off, Gene." Naru's frowned with exasperation and looked pointedly at his tea. "I'm not playing this game."

"Oh, Aahil speaks French?" Mai asked Lin hurriedly, sensing the tension between the brothers. She had known Naru had learned French to some degree but had in fact never heard him speak it. While the thought was appealing, she could see right now it was in everyone's best interest to mollify the situation.

Lin nodded, no doubt aware of what Mai's aim for conversation was. "Yes," he said, taking a piece of bread from the basket. "While many spirit familiars can understand human intent and emotions regardless of the language they speak, a spirit bound in servitude must understand specific instructions through language. Aahil does not speak many languages; but his previous master spoke French which is why he is fluent." He eyed Gene curiously. "I'm surprised you knew he spoke French, Gene. Certainly he hasn't spoken the language to you."

Naru and Gene stopped glaring at each other, looking at Lin with mild interest. "Do you usually speak with him in English or Chinese, then?" Gene asked, evading Lin's question.

"English," Lin said shortly. "Aahil's Cantonese is even worse than his Japanese."

Mai nibbled on her toast, tilting her head back and forth as she thought. Had she really only conversed with the spirit in English? She couldn't remember. "Aahil wasn't one of the two shiki your grandmother passed on to you, was he?"

"No," Lin said. "He was not."

Mai bit her lip, wondering if she should ask more questions. Now was probably not a good time to unravel Lin's past with Aahil, but he might not think there was ever a good time and she was very curious. Gene was evidently just as inquisitive and spoke when Mai hesitated.

"Who was his previous master?" He glanced at his brother. "I suppose you know all this already, Noll."

"No," Naru said thoughtfully. "I know nothing of Lin's shiki in particular. But if his previous master spoke French, I can only speculate it had to do with Thibault Bertin, of which I know very little." He raised an eyebrow at the taller man. "You took his spirit familiar from him?"

Both Mai and Gene looked between the two curiously. "That must have been when you were in Morocco, right Lin?" Gene prompted, and Mai's face fell slightly as she wondered how little she truly knew about her instructor and friend.

Lin exhaled. Mai knew he was displeased Naru had brought up the subject, though he covered his annoyance well. "Yes. But now is not a good time to talk about the Thibault Bertin incident." Their waitress was approaching again, carrying a massive tray with soups, salads and sandwiches carefully arranged. "Tomorrow," he promised, rubbing his temple by his right eye, fingers hidden beneath his hair. "I'll tell you about it tomorrow."

...

They were leaving the restaurant when Gene snapped his fingers by his head. "I forgot something at the office," he realized. "You guys go on ahead," he said, waving the others away. "You don't need to wait for me. It'll just be a minute."

"I'll go with you," Lin said, following the older twin.

"Lin, it's not—" Gene began to protest.

"I'll go with you," Lin repeated, and Mai had a feeling he wanted to speak to Gene privately about what had happened in the restaurant earlier.

"Come on, Mai," Naru said, taking her by the elbow. "I don't want to miss the train."

Gene visibly started, stumbling slightly. "Gene?" Lin asked, steadying the boy's shoulder.

"It's nothing," Gene said, shrugging off Lin's hand. His brother was watching him closely and Mai looked concerned, her eyebrows knitting together.

"We'll walk with you, Gene," she began. "The office isn't really out of the way from here to Shibuya Station—"

"We're closer to Meiji-jingumae Station from here, Mai," Naru said. "It's only a few blocks north. There's no reason to walk all the way back to Shibuya Station."

"Right." Gene looked satisfied with his brother's excuse and waved them away. "See you later."

Mai and Naru stood on the corner, watching the two disappear down the street. "Let's go, Mai," Naru repeated, his hands tucked in the pockets of his coat.

She reluctantly turned, following him as he turned the walk in the opposite direction of the other two. "Will he be all right, Naru?"

"He'll be fine," Naru said. "You don't need to worry about Gene if Lin's with him."

Mai nodded, willing herself to agree. "Yeah. Just then.. for some reason.. I felt kind of nervous."

He paused so she could catch up to his longer stride and the two walked side-by-side along the narrow street. "He had a vision this afternoon, shortly before you came to the office. It's quite probable he's still off-balance from that."

"A vision?" Mai asked uncertainly. "Not about.. about Kanegae Yuuto?" She frowned slightly, remembering how Gene had acted as if there was no question about whether or not they would take the case.

"No," Naru said, turning down another street. After another block the streets widened and the buildings began to be replaced by trees, their walk to the subway station leading them through the tip of Yoyogi Park. "It was something that happened before. Something that happened to us."

Mai furrowed her eyebrows, noting that us could refer to either herself and Naru, or Naru and Gene. He hadn't specified. It was rare for him to be so ambiguous. "Naru..."

He shook his head but would not meet her gaze. "Don't worry about it, Mai," and hurrying across the street, she followed him down the steps into the underground.

...

The two were quiet for much of the train ride. Mai seemed to be lost in her thoughts and Naru found himself unjustifiably irritated that she was still thinking about his brother. "I looked up Okimi town in the atlas before we left the office," she said suddenly, flexing her grip on the support beam. "It's on Etajima Island, just south of Hiroshima city in the bay."

Naru turned his gaze on her, but her eyes were trained listlessly at the warning and courtesy signs posted above the doors.

"Hiroshima, huh..." she continued, a nostalgic smile tugging on her lips. "So far away. I wonder if Gene'll take the case. It seems like it's been forever since I've been on a long, uncomfortable car ride to some distant part of Japan." She looked up at him then, pushing out her lower lip in a pout. "It won't be the same without you, Naru."

"Naturally."

"You say this is Gene's case, but won't you at least call from England to discuss it? We could have a conference call when he comes..." she closed her eyes, thinking. "Four in the afternoon... would be... morning in London." She nibbled on the edge of her lip as she thought. "Eight hours difference, so that'd be eight o'clock." She opened her eyes, gazing at him hopefully. "At least it's not in the middle of the night. It's doable, isn't it?"

A dry smile twitched at the edge of Naru's lips. "Probably not. I'll be either taking the train to Cambridge or going with Martin to BSPR. No matter how feasible it is, Mai, you don't need my opinions."

She stamped her foot in aggravation. "Don't say that, Naru."

He shrugged. "Gene can conduct an interview just as well as I can. He may forget important questions, but your instincts and experience will certainly be enough to cover everything. Not to mention Lin will be there."

Mai looked at her feet. "I'm sure Gene would like to discuss it with you."

"Yes," Naru conceded. "But at the same time, it might be better for him to have a solo case for once. He won't admit this but I know he's still bothered by the amount of time I've lived without him." He sighed. "Don't look at the floor like that, Mai."

She jerked her gaze up to meet his, flushing slightly. "Sorry."

"People will think I've made you cry."

"I'm not crying," she protested. He gazed at her pointedly. "Really. I'm not crying if no tears have fallen."

"Is that how you define it, then," he said loftily. "Never mind the moisture in your eyes."

She couldn't help but giggle at his dubious expression and sniffed, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. "See?"

"That's better."

"Yes, Naru," she said, pretending to be cross, but he could see her eyes were twinkling again. Her hand found his, her fingers surreptitiously intertwining with his own and their bodies swayed in synchronization with the movement of the jostling train.

...

It wasn't a long train ride, but it was dark outside by the time they arrived at Mai's apartment and the two teenagers hurried through the wooden gate, slipping beneath the silhouette of the lilac tree and inside.

"I think I've never been so thankful for a weekend," Mai said, dropping her school bag at her door, pulling off her jacket and kicking off her slip-on shoes at the same time. "Lin-san said I did well enough this week that I can have a break tomorrow. Well—I guess he didn't say if I did well enough, but he did say we should take a break." She made a slight face. "Now that I think about it, that doesn't sound good at all, does it?"

Naru smiled as he followed her inside the apartment, slipping off his shoes and stepping up onto the raised floor. "Either way, lucky me."

"Lucky me," Mai retorted. "You're not the one who has to get up at six in the morning to go on a horrendously long run—" She stopped mid-sentence as his hand took hers, pulling her gently toward him as his other arm snaked around her middle.

"Lucky us," he corrected with a sly grin, and Mai closed her eyes as his lips trailed over the back of her neck.

"Come inside first, alright?" She giggled breathlessly.

"The door's closed."

"You don't want a cup of tea?" She teased, leaning into his body and reaching a hand to caress his face with her fingertips.

"As you like," he said, though he only slightly loosened his hold around her torso. "I like it when you wear your hair up like this," he murmured softly, and Mai shivered to feel his breath on her ear, tickling the loose hairs at the base of her neck. "I find it.. very alluring."

"I like it when you catch me by surprise," Mai laughed quietly, turning in his arms to meet his lips with hers.

"I know," he responded, a small smile twitching the edges of his lips as she kissed him.

Mai sighed and kissed him again. "I love it when you smile like that," she murmured, closing her eyes and resting her head against his shoulder. "I can't believe you're going back to England in four days."

He shrugged slightly as he stroked his fingers through her hair. "There's nothing to be done. Don't dwell on it if it's going to make you so despondent."

"Easy for you to say," she retorted.

He smirked, releasing her from his arms and she followed him past the entry to her living room. "Shall we have that tea? You were yawning on the train."

"I'm not sleepy anymore," she giggled, leaning forward to kiss him again. He closed his eyes and let her kiss him; allowed her hands to tug on his sweater, pulling him gently toward the floor.

"Evidently," he murmured. His eyes narrowed in satisfaction as she settled in his lap and he slipped his hand under the hem of the blouse of her uniform, feeling the smooth skin of her lower back as he moved his lips from her neck to her collarbone. His smirk widened to hear her inhale sharply at his touch.

Distracted with each other, neither heard the sound of footsteps approaching outside and the slight rap that could have been a knock at the door. However, preoccupied as they were, both definitely heard the sound the front door made as it slid open, revealing a very astonished looking couple. What followed transpired over a matter of seconds.

The woman's mouth dropped open in surprise as she gaped at the two before her and the taller man behind her had lost all color from his cheeks, his eyes perhaps even wider than his wife's. The affectionate couple immediately sprang apart. Mai scrambled away from Naru, pulling down her sweater and adjusting her skirt around her waist, hoping—hoping—neither had seen the exposed skin of her stomach or where their son's hands had just been. Meanwhile, Naru had straightened and ran a hand through his hair, cursing silently and preparing himself both physically and mentally to greet their guests.

Gene's warning came a second too late. They're here, his panicked voice said in his mind. I don't know how or when but they're here, Martin and Luella are here—

"Gene!" Luella exclaimed with a squeak before her son could speak, taking several steps forward but stopping at the threshold of the raised floor. Naru noted dryly that even in her frazzled state, his mother seemed to remember enough of Japanese etiquette not to step up in her outdoor shoes.

Luella's face was pale, aghast to have seen one of her adopted sons in a compromising position with a clearly very willing girl. They were on the floor. She had been in his lap. Her eyes darted around the room. In what was obviously an otherwise empty house. His hands had been under her clothes. "What are you—"

"Not Gene, Mum. It's me, Oliver." Naru's lips curved in what was almost a smile. "Though I can understand that you would confuse me for Gene in this kind of situation."

Both Martin and Luella stared at him with mouths agape, completely flabbergasted. Luella recovered first, closing her mouth. Strangely, she seemed somewhat relieved to hear it was the younger twin rather than the elder, but Naru's gaze was focused on his father's, knowing his mother's outburst was over but they'd yet to receive his father's.

"Oliver?!" Martin said, having finally found his voice, his nostrils flaring. "What in the devil's blazes—"

Mai flinched. She'd never heard Martin angry before. Upset, yes—but never angry. And it was the kind of quiet, unbearable anger filled with bewilderment and disappointment. She lowered her gaze, tears welling in her eyes. There had never been a confrontation like this between Naru and his adopted parents, both in the past or within that future they'd lived through, and certainly never concerning a girl.

"I can see your brother getting himself into this kind of trouble, but you!?" Martin continued incredulously. "If this is what you're spending your time doing, what can we expect from Eugene? Where's Lin?" He didn't wait for an answer because the answer was evident: Not here. "He's supposed to be keeping tabs on you two. Is this why you ran off so suddenly and wanted to open a so-called satellite office? Does Lin know about this? Is this why he needed to rent a separate house in his own name? So you could be away from your family and experiment—" He pointed at Mai rudely, but Naru cut him off.

"No, Father." Naru said firmly, speaking quickly before his adopted father could say something he would surely regret when the situation was sorted out. Martin had never said anything disrespectful to Mai before and he wasn't going to allow him to start now, now that they were meeting again for the first time.

Being called 'Father' caused Martin to stop. Naru glanced at Mai, sighing as he saw her. She was staring at the floor and was clearly on the verge of crying. Rising to his feet, Naru took a deep breath and continued. "Gene and Lin should be here soon, I think. Before that, I believe an introduction is in order." It was then, as he stood, that he noticed a third figure standing behind his adopted parents in the threshold: a slim Japanese-English woman he had not expected to see again for some time. Lin's future wife Sarah was cringing and very much trying to disappear into the shadows, not wanting to be witness to the unfolding family drama.

Mai was trembling and Naru reached down to take her hand, pulling her gently to her feet. "I was very much looking forward to introducing you. I hope you'll trust me when I say I envisioned very different circumstances." He took several steps forward, nearly dragging Mai with him toward his staring parents. Mai felt her tears finally slip down her cheeks, tremendously embarrassed. Had she been looking at Martin or Luella's faces rather than their feet, she would have seen Luella's eyebrows knit together in empathy. Luella was not the type of woman who could see another cry without being moved to tears herself. Martin also appeared to show some regret for his words, not expecting to make her cry, though his features were still darkened with anger.

"Mother, Father, this is Taniyama Mai."

"Mai Taniyama?" Martin asked, raising his eyebrows in disbelief. "Isn't she the assistant you've hired at the office?"

"Yes."

"P-Pleased to meet you," Mai managed with a shaking voice, her eyes still steadfast on the floor. She bowed in greeting, her hands on her thighs as she lowered herself before them. "Mr and Mrs Davis."

"It's nice to meet you, Mai," Luella said, though Mai couldn't imagine there was anything nice about it at all. The woman reached into her purse and retrieved a small packet of tissues, holding them out toward the girl when she straightened. Mai took them numbly and Luella turned her gaze back to her son. "Oliver, not to be rude, but I think it'd be better if you sent her home. Before that, could you... could you tell her I'm sorry we startled her? I mean... we were rather shocked, Noll." She glanced at her husband. "We weren't... weren't expecting to find you like this."

"Mai is completely fluent in English," Naru said. A bitter smile formed on his lips. "She lived in London for six years, after all."

"Oh," Luella said. Her pale blue eyes moved between the two, narrowing when she noticed her son was still holding the girl's hand.

"We should continue this conversation at our apartment," Naru said. He gestured slightly to the room around them. "As I'm sure you've gathered, this is the second apartment Lin rented. We'll be a little tight with seven people here, and I suppose you'd rather a sofa than to sit on the floor."

"Seven?" Martin repeated, frowning.

Sarah looked almost panicked when she realized Naru intended to include her in the resulting conversation, but the teenager spoke before she could protest. "You as well, Sarah." he said.

The young Japanese-English woman seemed surprised—Naru realized they may not have met and she probably didn't expect him to remember her even if they had. She dipped her head as she spoke for the first time, whispering an apology. "I'm sorry, Oliver, I can leave—"

"No," Naru said calmly. "I see no reason why you shouldn't be included as well."

Martin turned to Mai then, addressing her stiffly. "I'm sorry this has been rather sudden, Miss Taniyama. I'd—we'd—like to speak with our son in private. I'm sure you understand—"

"No," Naru interjected firmly. "Mai will accompany us."

"Noll—" Luella began.

"It's fine, Naru," Mai whispered. "I'll just—"

"Don't be ridiculous," Martin began.

"Noll, darling," Luella interrupted her husband smoothly, knowing, no doubt, that whatever her husband said would only incite the teen's temper. "I understand that Mai is very important to you and you want her to be involved in our family affairs—"

No, Naru thought with a frown. You don't understand. How can you?

"—but it's not unreasonable that Martin wants to talk to you alone tonight."

"No. Mai will be included in our discussion. She is, after all, the woman I intend to marry." Naru smiled wanly. "Though still many years away I'm sure."

Mai was perhaps just as shocked at Naru's declaration as his parents. Why, Naru? she thought, her mind spinning. Why? Why are you telling them that?

Luella inhaled sharply, clasping her hands to her mouth. The noise sounded more like a sob than a gasp. "Noll," she whispered, and tears then did form in her eyes.

"M-marry?" Martin finally sputtered, recovering from his shock. "Oliver, be serious, you're sixteen! What could you possibly— Why would you want to—" His face drained white. "Surely—surely she's not pregnant?" He hissed the last word as if it had left a bad taste in his mouth.

It was too much: the way Luella eyed her suspiciously and how Martin stared at her with distaste. Overcome with it all, Mai was unable to stop herself from bursting into quiet tears, hiding her face in her hand.

"No, she is not," Naru said firmly, holding Mai's other hand tightly even when she tried to pull away. He sighed again, closing his eyes and rubbing his brow with his fingers. This was going even worse than he could have imagined and he wished Gene was there to placate their parents. Gene always knew what to say. He could feel his brother's anxiety through their telepathic bond, but otherwise couldn't tell how far away he may still be. He glanced back at Mai, who had dried her tears and composed herself behind Luella's tissues, but still looked very much like she wanted to sink into the floor and disappear.

"You know me better than to think I would do something so irresponsible—"

"I thought," Martin interrupted. "But none of what's happened tonight really lines up with who I thought you to be, Noll." He eyed him suspiciously. "I'm still half-expecting you to laugh and admit to being Gene after all."

Naru stared at his father expressionlessly, and at that moment the boy in question burst through the front door, yanking it open so quickly that Mai winced. "How could you say that?" Gene shouted at his father as he rushed past Sarah, face flushed and eyes blazing with anger.

Lin, right behind him, nearly stumbling to keep up, placed a hand on his shoulder. "Easy, Gene," he cautioned, hoping the boy wouldn't lunge at his father in his temper so he wouldn't have to intervene.

The young man was trembling. "Martin never said anything like this to Mai before," he continued, voice raised. "So he needs to apologize, dammit! He should be dropping hints about how you two need to get married already, like last time... not insulting her and getting the bloody wrong idea!"

"Last time?" Luella echoed.

Martin folded his arms across his chest defensively, frowning as he stared at his sons, his eyes darting between the two and his lips drawn in a tight line. "How can I not be getting the 'wrong idea', Eugene? You seem to know enough of your brother's activities—"

"It's only because of Mai that Noll ever came out of his grief. That he ever really smiled again." Gene's voice shook. "And it's only because of Mai that I'm here again today. If Noll hadn't found someone to live for, if he'd never tried to use his PK like that—"

"Aniki," Naru said quietly, and his brother's voice trailed off mid-sentence, surprised to hear his brother use the Japanese term for elder brother. It was probably the only word he could use to effectively and immediately silence Gene, but it would also only heighten their parents' suspicions as well. "Stop."

The parents exchanged anxious glances. Lin sighed silently and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Mai and Sarah stood in similar positions, both pressed close to the wall and staring at the floor, the former still close to tears and the latter looking uncomfortable to be caught in the middle of some serious family turmoil.

Gene's eyes darted between Mai and Naru and then turned his head to meet the gaze of his bewildered parents. He exhaled loudly and his shoulders drooped in defeat. "I'm getting ahead of myself, sorry," he muttered. "Forget it." Noticing how Mai seemed close to tears, he placed his hand on her back comfortingly, seeming to relax slightly himself as he did so. He did not notice how Luella's eyes followed the gesture, but Naru did and wondered if it was better or worse that Luella could see how important Mai was to Gene. At least—he thought dryly, from where they were standing Martin probably would not have noticed the movement.

Lin also relaxed, seeing that Gene had calmed down and wasn't about to launch himself at his adopted father. "Martin, Luella, it's good to see you," he said, trying to keep his voice even and pleasant. "You should have told us you were coming."

"Lin," Martin acknowledged, giving a terse nod to the man. The three teenagers could see the barely concealed look in his eyes which clearly said something along the lines of There had better be a good explanation for all of this.

"We thought it would be a surprise," Luella said nervously, clutching her hands together as she glanced at her husband. "Martin wanted to see the office and we thought we could work in a day or two of sightseeing before we came back with Noll..." Her voice drifted off before beginning again, suddenly. "Oh, do you know Sarah?" She said, as if suddenly remembering the young woman standing behind her. "This is Sarah Abbott," she introduced. "She started working for Martin at SPR in the Research Department a few months ago."

Lin had nearly started in his shock when he first saw the woman who accompanied the Davis couple, but Gene's outburst had given him the time he needed to compose himself. He nodded his head in greeting to her. "Miss Abbott," he said. "Yes, I've seen you at SPR, but I don't believe we've been introduced. Nice to see you again."

"Likewise, Mr Lin. It's nice to finally meet you." Sarah reiterated the greeting, managing a small, polite smile.

"We've met," Naru said curtly, and Sarah gave a short nod.

"We haven't," Gene said, looking peeved, "though I'm sure it's pretty obvious who's who by now."

Mai ignored the introduction of the twins as she watched the young woman out of the corner of her eye, careful not to stare or make her gaze too obvious. There was something in her tone or in her demeanor—something off. She couldn't tell what it was, exactly, but it seemed to her the woman was hiding embarrassment, embarrassment that stemmed from being addressed by Lin. Mai frowned, forgetting for a moment her own situation. She'd never met Sarah when the woman was this young, though it had only been a couple years later that the two had been introduced. Mai guessed she was still in her early twenties, though she didn't look very different from how Mai had known her: she wore her hair the same way she remembered, the curly locks falling past her shoulders in gentle waves, and she was perhaps just as or even more reserved and quiet as she had been the first time they'd met—though admittedly, that could be the circumstances. Watching the two, Mai suddenly wondered how long Sarah had secretly admired the tall Chinese man before they were married, as it was clear to her by the way she looked at him and her body language that she already had feelings for him.

"Let's go back to your apartment, then," Luella said, glancing between her husband and her sons. "I could use a cup of tea."

Martin sighed slightly in resignation. "Yes," he agreed, and gestured vaguely toward Mai. "And we should allow Miss Taniyama to return home. It's quite late, isn't it? I'm sure your parents are wondering where you are."

Naru was ready to speak in case Mai didn't want to answer, but he needn't have worried. "I live here," she said plainly. "I'm the reason Lin-san had to rent this second apartment in his name. My apartment was condemned due to an electrical fire and Lin-san was kind enough to help me get settled here. I don't have any family and the social services agency was not very understanding or accommodating. I didn't have many options available to me."

"You're an orphan?" Martin asked, raising his eyebrows only slightly. Granted, Naru thought—after the way the evening had started out he couldn't really expect Martin to be surprised anymore.

"Yes," Mai said simply. For some reason she felt like she should apologize, but apologizing for the situation would also be apologizing that her parents had died.

"When was the fire?" Martin asked, then, looking to Lin for verification.

"Several days before I arrived here in Tokyo," Lin answered.

Martin seemed to be satisfied and gave a short nod. Luella, on the other hand, gazed at Mai with a mixture of emotions on her face. Gene laid a hand on his brother's shoulder. At least we can count on Luella to be sympathetic. Give her a few days and she'll love Mai again like her daughter.

As to be expected, his brother responded wryly. Martin, however...

Was it really that bad? I mean, you guys still had your clothes on, right?

Naru's eyebrow twitched in annoyance. Of course we did, Gene, don't be preposterous.

Gene snorted in amusement. It's not preposterous and you know it, Noll. You guys have been together now for what, seven, eight years? It may be you we're talking about, but even I would assume you've slept together by now—

Gene, his brother's voice in his head warned.

Alright alright, I'll stop.

In their distraction, Lin had stepped outside with Sarah and had taken up the Davis' luggage, and Martin and Luella were waiting for their sons to follow. Naru turned his head and met Mai's gaze, his eyes narrowing when she dropped his hand.

"No, Naru," Mai said quietly, answering his unspoken question. "It'd probably be better for you and Gene to talk with your parents alone."

Martin frowned when he saw the younger twin lagging behind. "Oliver—"

"Perhaps tomorrow Mai can come to the office and we can meet her there?" Luella suggested.

Naru's shoulders slumped slightly in defeat. "Fine," he said shortly. "That's fine. But give me a minute here."

Martin looked as if he was about to protest but Gene had already taken his parents by their arms and was leading them out of the house. "Let's go," he said cheerfully to Martin and Luella. "It's only a short walk down the street." He turned his head, calling back to Mai. "Good night, Mai. See you tomorrow. And don't be too slow, Noll," he said in a sing-song voice. "Or we'll leave without you."

"I know the way," Naru retorted, "and I'll only be a minute." He turned toward Mai as Gene closed the door, exhaling slightly and reaching forward to take her hand again. "I'm sorry, Mai," he said softly. "I'm sorry about all of this."

Mai smiled weakly. "That was pretty bad, huh?"

His lips twitched. "It could have been worse."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. What happened wasn't your fault."

She released a sigh, squeezing his hands. "Are you going to tell them?"

"About what?"

"About..." her voice trailed off. "Everything."

"No," he shook his head. "I can't."

"They'd believe you, you know."

Naru sighed. "Maybe. But it would only make things worse."

Mai frowned. "Would it?" She looked at their hands, clasped between them. "Maybe."

There was a pause before Naru spoke again. "Don't feel bad about what happened tonight," he told her quietly. "You don't need to be embarrassed or guilty."

"How can I not?" she whispered.

He shook his head. "I know you are. But please don't... please try to let it go." His other hand reached toward her and he lifted her chin to force her to meet his calm gaze. "I don't often... perhaps I don't say it often enough," he admitted, his voice just as quiet as before. "I love you, Mai, intensely and indescribably so. Remember that. Everything else will sort itself out."

It was what she needed to hear, and Mai smiled as she felt some of the heaviness lift from her core at his words. "I love you, Naru," she whispered.

His lips twitched in a smile. "I know. Thank you."

Mai couldn't help but exhale a shaky laugh. "You'd better go," she said, giving his hands a slight squeeze before releasing them. "I'll see you tomorrow. Call me or text... whatever."

He nodded and stepped down off the raised floor, sliding his feet into his shoes. "I will." Straightening, he brushed his hair away from his eyes and met her gaze. She lifted a hand in a silent goodbye, smiling slightly and nodded, trying to feel as confident as she knew he wanted her to be.

...

When Naru stepped outside, closing the door firmly behind him, Gene had led his parents away from the house, the three waiting beneath the bare branches of the lilac tree while Lin and Sarah already stood on the street.

"It's this way." Naru said, leading the group briskly down the street. "Though I suppose you went there before you came here."

"No one was home," Luella started. "And we called Gene's mobile but he didn't pick up—"

"We were probably on the train and I didn't have a signal," Gene muttered in explanation. "Sorry. It's all because I forgot some things at the office..." His voice trailed off and he met his brother's gaze guiltily, and Naru could see he blamed himself for what happened.

It's not your fault, he told his brother silently.

Gene snorted aloud. Then whose is it?

No one's, he responded.

Gene sighed but said nothing and was silent for the rest of the walk.

...

"Welcome," Gene said, flipping on the lights and leading his parents inside. Lin and Sarah, close behind, set down the luggage and took off their shoes, the others following suit. "Goes without saying, but make yourselves comfortable. We've got a living room area and a combined dining room and kitchen," he gestured, crossing the living room in his socks and heading down the hallway.

"Down the hall, the bedrooms, a combined laundry bath and toilet." Gene opened the door to the extra bedroom, flipping on the light. Lin had said he had prepared it, and as to be expected of the man, the room was completely immaculate. "Looks like a hotel," he said, wrinkling his nose as he eyed the interior.

"Not everyone is as messy as you are, Gene." Naru said dryly, having followed with his parents' suitcases.

"You and Noll share a room?" Luella asked, and Gene nodded, opening the door on the opposite side of the hall.

"Here," he said, turning on the light to reveal a moderately-sized room, sparsely furnished with two single beds, identical but for the fact that one was made neatly and the other was not, and two night tables. "The other room is Lin's."

"You can use my room while you're here, Miss Abbott," Lin said, gesturing for the woman to follow him down the hall.

Sarah's eyes widened in surprise but didn't protest. "Oh, um, thank you, but what about you?"

Lin smiled ever so slightly. "The sofa will be fine."

Watching her, Gene had the same feeling that Mai had earlier, the feeling that there was something peculiar about Sarah's demeanour. He frowned as Lin led her into his bedroom, eyes narrowing slightly as he thought. Not wrong, he thought, just slightly... off. He couldn't tell what it was and wondered if it could be related to the woman having psychic abilities. Noll obviously knew her, though whether just from BSPR in the last few weeks or some time in the future, he didn't know.

Gene's thoughts came to an abrupt halt when his brother nudged him in the ribs, and the two followed their parents into the kitchen. Martin and Luella sat down at the table while Naru turned on the electric kettle.

"Sit down, Noll, Gene," Luella patted the table, and the twins complied without hesitation. She smiled and lifted her hand, stroking Gene's cheek gently. "It's been six weeks since I've seen you. I don't know how mothers can send their children to boarding school," she murmured, brushing his hair out of his eyes with her fingers. "Looks like you could use a haircut," she teased.

"Mum," Gene complained, but he didn't pull away from her hand.

"We could go to a salon tomorrow or the next so you two can get your hair trimmed together," Luella continued, smiling at Naru.

Naru shrugged, trying to keep his face neutral even though he had no desire to waste time at a salon. "We could just buy a scissors and you could do it for us."

Their mother's cheeks flushed with happiness. "You know I'd be glad to."

Lin appeared when the kettle began to boil. "I'll make tea," he said quietly.

"Where's Sarah?" Martin asked.

"She said she was tired from the flight and would turn in early," Lin said, though both he and Naru knew she would have given the family some privacy, tired from the transcontinental flight or not.

Luella nodded sympathetically. "She didn't sleep much, I think." She squeezed Gene's hand, watching as Lin took five teacups from the cupboard. "You said there's a laundry room," she said abruptly. "You wash your own clothes?"

"Of course we do," Gene said, looking hurt that she would suggest otherwise.

"Luella, Martin, would you care for some biscuits?" Lin asked.

"Please," Luella said gratefully. "Just something for a little nibble." Lin nodded and retrieved a package from the pantry, arranging the cookies on a plate and taking them to the table.

"What about meals?" Martin asked absently as he took a biscuit, knowing his wife was more concerned about the day-to-day and they would discuss nothing else until she was satisfied.

"We eat mostly at home," Naru answered before Gene could say anything, glancing at his brother out of the corner of his eye. Now would not be a good time to clarify that over the last four weeks they'd mostly eaten meals that Mai had prepared. "Occasionally dinner or lunch at restaurants."

"I hope Lin doesn't do all the cooking," Luella said.

Lin smiled tersely as he brought the teacups to the table, two at a time. "Not at all. Gene and Noll have been sharing the household burdens equally." It may have been a bit of a stretch, but at least there was some truth to the statement.

"Ta," Luella said as she accepted the cup from Lin. There were only four chairs at the table, so after Lin brought tea to the twins he leaned against the kitchen counter, holding his cup loosely in his hands.

"Noll cooks more than me," Gene said, reaching for a cookie. "But he doesn't vacuum."

Naru rolled his eyes in obvious disagreement, and Luella laughed aloud. Martin seemed to relax as he sipped his tea, smiling fondly at his sons, all earlier tension disappearing.

Luella gazed at her sons with a wistful smile as she inhaled the steam from the tea. "It's hard to imagine Noll vacuuming," she admitted. "But he's always kept his room clean."

"Are we finished discussing our domestic chores?" Naru asked, frowning.

"All right then, Noll," Luella conceded. "It's just good to hear you've been taking care of yourselves. You can't fault your mother for wanting that." She sipped her tea and gazed at him with a perplexed expression on her face. "When did Mai become your girlfriend? Before or after you hired her?"

Naru let out a silent sigh of exasperation. Should have stuck to the topic of domesticity, Gene laughed in his mind.

He didn't bother gracing his twin with a reply. "She was an assistant first," he said, folding his arms across his chest.

Martin frowned. His sons could see him calculating in his head how long they could have been together. "How did you meet her?" he asked.

It was Gene who answered, saving his brother from having to lie to their parents. "I ran into her in the train station," he answered truthfully. "She helped me out a when I was here by myself. We became friends and I invited her along when Noll arrived." Never mind the fact that he hadn't introduced them, but Gene hoped that's how his explanation would be taken.

His father raised an eyebrow. "And you thought she would be a good candidate for the office because of that?"

Gene shrugged. "It had to be someone that could tolerate Noll." At tolerate, his brother looked even more annoyed, but Gene ignored his expression and continued. "She's very intelligent and diligent. She's good with people and has an open mind to the supernatural. And she speaks English, so there's no room for misunderstanding."

Luella seemed satisfied with the answer. "You haven't been very busy at the office, then?" Martin asked, glancing at Naru and giving him an incriminating look.

Gene winced slightly at the accusatory tone, though his brother's face remained expressionless. "Only one proper case, as you know," he admitted. "But we have a consultation this coming Wednesday."

"Hmm," Martin began, lifting an eyebrow as he spoke. "What happened with the Prime Minister, then? We were right to presume that wasn't a case?"

Naru glanced at Lin, who was standing very still, his hand frozen with his teacup just below his chin. He wondered for a split second if they should try to deny it, but his brother spoke before he'd reached his conclusion.

"Oh," Gene said, turning his head and deliberately picking lint off his sleeve. "That. I'm afraid we burned his house down. There was something monstrous and terrible hiding inside."

Naru closed his eyes and lowered his head, his fingers catching his forehead between his eyebrows.

"You. What?" Martin managed, and Luella's teacup clattered against the saucer. Whatever answer their parents had been expecting, it certainly wasn't that.

"Well, it's not as if we burned it down," Gene corrected quickly. "That was just our advice."

"You told the Prime Minister to burn his house down?" Martin demanded incredulously.

"I had a vision," Gene justified. "A lot of people were going to die. A lot of people already had."

"We had to do something," Naru said quietly, suddenly feeling very tired. "We couldn't let any more innocent people fall victim to him."

"Oliver—" Martin began, but Luella interrupted before her husband could continue.

"Why didn't you tell us? Surely we could have—could have helped you—" she turned her gaze to Lin then. "You were probably in on this as well?"

"Yes," Lin answered honestly.

"Well thank goodness you had the sense to at least tell someone," Luella sighed, her eyebrows suddenly twitching together with worry when she turned her gaze back to Gene. "What did you see?"

Gene paused, considering. He'd been saved the death vision Mai had once experienced in that house, though he had some previous memories from the mansion and he'd dreamed of his brother's case the night before they'd gone there together. None of it was pleasant. "Urado's mansion," he began quietly, and shuddered slightly. He may not have dreamed of death himself, but he remembered the bathtub filled with blood, the bones stacked neatly in rows upon rows. Ghosts or spirits didn't scare him, but Urado had not been a ghost. It was the closest his brother had ever been to losing Mai and the fragile world he'd built around himself. He didn't want to think what the future would have been like if they'd been too late; if Mai had instead found the body of Hara Masako when she'd rushed in to find her friend. What would have happened to her, even if she was saved from Urado herself. "I can't tell you, Luella," he muttered. "I can't."

Martin regarded his sons quietly. "If what all you say is true, I can't say I'm not proud of you for acting to save the lives of others," he finally said. "But I wish you would have told us."

"I didn't want to worry you. I told Lin we'd already told you." Gene jerked his head toward Lin as he covered for him. "And that I'd send you the report."

"And a cleansing fire was the only way? Why—why burn the site?" Martin asked. "If Lin couldn't exorcise the spirit—"

"It wasn't a spirit," Naru said quietly. "It was a monster. Kaneyuki Miyama discovered a secret of a longer life. He extended his own by killing others."

"He'd been there a long time. Since.. since—" Gene looked to his brother for assistance.

"1877. But we didn't determine when he started killing people. Probably in the early 1900s."

"Yeah," Gene nodded. "For almost a hundred years he'd been preying on others."

"How do you know all this?"

Naru folded his arms across his chest. "We did our research, Martin."

"At least you went prepared," Luella said, exhaling a sigh and trying to relax her fingers around her teacup. The whole ordeal made her nervous. Luella knew she'd never had an inkling of clairvoyancy or any other preternatural power, but she'd developed an instinct over the years for when her sons were keeping something from her, and now was one of those times. She hoped it was just that Gene wasn't telling her the gruesome details of the vision. And if he wouldn't tell her, it had to be gruesome.

"So you determined there was something inside the house and that it had to be eliminated to save the lives of others. The objective must have been to burn it down at all costs, if you went so far to reveal your identities." He frowned between his sons. "After all, didn't I ask you not to under any circumstances? It was one of the conditions for opening this satellite office."

"Sorry—" Gene blurted, but his brother interrupted him.

"It couldn't be helped." Naru said calmly, shooting his brother a hard look to quiet him.

"It was either that or create a diversion and burn it down ourselves," Gene mumbled.

Martin laughed out loud, leaning his head back and resting it against his folded arms. "Well, I'm certainly glad you didn't do that, or it would have been a notice of your arrest rather than a letter of gratitude we received through the post." He shook his head. "What did you do? How did you convince the Prime Minister of all this?"

Naru hesitated, having anticipated that Martin would ask this question but still unprepared to answer. They hadn't even told Mai exactly what had transpired that day, knowing it would only cause her worry. Instead, they'd only told her simplest version: they introduced themselves and proved who they were with their unique capabilities, which granted them an audience with the Prime Minister's chief of staff. The man spoke with the Prime Minister, who reluctantly agreed to destroy the mansion after he recommended he follow their suggestion. Apparently the chief of staff had seen suspicious activity and had his own suspicions of what was going on at the house, and was all too eager to find a root of the cause.

Martin frowned, his sons' hesitation speaking for itself. "You demonstrated your abilities?" He sighed, pressing his fingers to his forehead and covering his eyes with his hand. "Noll, please do not tell me you used your PK."

"Only a little," Gene muttered. "His chief of staff wasn't completely impressed with my exhibition of clairvoyance."

"Oliver," Martin said firmly, sounding more annoyed than angry though the twins could see he was extremely displeased. "That was uncharacteristically reckless of you." He exhaled slowly, trying to compose himself. "Surely you understand why I'm disappointed."

"Yes, father," Naru said quietly.

"At least Gene was there with him." Luella said, and glanced sideways at the other man leaning against the kitchen counter. "And Lin."

"It was my idea," Gene interjected quickly and Martin turned his gaze to his other son. "Noll wouldn't have done it if I hadn't said it was the only way. I'd had a vision so I knew it would work."

"Eugene," their father said, shaking his head and sighing slightly. "Do I need to remind you to exercise caution when relying on your visions?" He frowned. "You know they aren't guaranteed to be omniscient. It can be very dangerous to base actions on your visions without careful deliberation."

"That's where this is my fault." Naru conceded, folding his arms across his chest. "I didn't question Gene's judgment and was eager to conclude our business at that place. What happened in that mansion over the years was.. horrifying, to say the least."

"What's done is done, Martin," Luella finally said quietly.

"Yes," Martin finally agreed, exhaling loudly. "What's done is done. There may not be consequences for revealing yourselves so carelessly. But you realize your identities could have easily been revealed to the public and we'd have to close the office."

"Yes father," Gene said quietly, eyes lowered. "It was too hasty and reckless to reveal ourselves so quickly. I promise we won't do it again."

Martin gazed at him contemplatively. "I permitted you to come to Japan by yourself, Eugene, because I was impressed by your motivation and dedication. You demonstrated great maturity in all the preparation you put into your visit. You know your mother had reservations about a three-week stay turning into months, but I persuaded her on your behalf. Please don't betray our trust." His lips quirked a small grin. "Not only will I be very angry with you, Gene, but your mother will be quite upset with the both of us."

"Now," Luella protested. "Don't pin this all on me, Martin."

"The last thing I want is to make Luella angry," Gene promised his parents with a reassuring, angelic smile. "I'll exercise caution and listen to Lin while you and Mum aren't here."

Martin looked somewhat relieved to hear his son speak so humbly and Luella smiled. His parents gazing intently at his twin, Naru couldn't help but roll his eyes, knowing Gene would probably intend to listen but that did not guarantee results.

I saw that, Noll.

Naru's lips twitched in a smirk. Saw what?

You know, you can be really annoying when you put your mind to it.

You should be proud, it's the one thing I was able to learn from you.

Luella had risen from her seat and collected the cups on the table, taking them to the sink. "I think it's time for bed," she announced.

"Yes," Martin agreed, stretching his arms behind his head. He turned, covering his mouth with his hand when a yawn overtook his features, and Gene couldn't help but yawn after that.

They left Lin to put away the dishes in the kitchen, bidding him goodnight as they made their way down the hall. "Let us know if you need anything," Naru said. "I'm sure you're tired from your flight."

"Rather," Martin admitted.

"And of course make yourselves at home," Gene said, smiling at his parents. "Sleep well."

"Oh, Gene," Luella sighed, wrapping her arms around the boy and hugging him tightly. "Good night, dear."

"Good night, Mum."

Luella hugged both of her sons before she let them escape to their room, and Martin squeezed their shoulders gently, patting Naru's back awkwardly in what the twins took as a silent apology for how the night had started, but also a reminder that he hadn't forgotten and he could expect a thorough reprimand later.

In their room, the door closed behind them, Gene exhaled a long sigh. "Well, tonight really couldn't possibly have gone any worse," he muttered, frowning when he saw his brother was smirking. "Well, obviously it could have gone much worse, but it sure could have gone a lot better." He pressed both palms against his forehead, running his fingers though his hair. Seeing his twin was still smirking he let out an exasperated huff. "What are you grinning for, you idiot?"

Naru exhaled suddenly, chuckling and shaking his head. "Of all things, I am so very grateful it was Sarah they brought with them and not Madoka. We never would have heard the end of it. She's so obnoxious about these sorts of things."

"You mean you never would have heard the end of it," his brother retorted.

Naru continued, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. "Madoka wouldn't have retired early so we could talk to Martin and Luella in private, and Madoka definitely would have overreacted when she found out about Urado. She'd be furious with all of us for not telling her, especially Lin. I can only imagine she must be busy with an important case if they didn't bring her."

Gene began to laugh weakly. "Yeah, can you imagine if she'd been here? Thank all the lucky stars in the sky it wasn't Madoka! It would have been ten, a hundred times worse!"

...

Luella listened to the sound of muffled voices through the wall, smiling when she heard the distinctive sound of Gene's laugh.

"They've been happy here," she said quietly, pulling back the covers and sitting down on the bed. "I didn't want to let them be so far away, but it's been good for them to stretch their wings with this satellite office." She smiled sadly. "Noll likes a challenge, and Gene's probably just happy to do something different. I'm glad, but I can't help but hope he'll want to follow Noll back to England. I know he missed him when they were apart, even though he pretended otherwise."

"Mmm," Martin agreed with a nod, settling into the bed next to his wife. "But they can't stay together forever, Luella."

"Maybe," she said, but she didn't sound convinced. "You hear about twins having special bonds, Martin, but have you ever seen anything like them?" She shook her head. "The way they look at each other. They're having conversations that none of us can hear."

"It wasn't always like that," Martin said slowly.

She nodded her agreement. "They would just talk to each other in Japanese if they didn't want to be overheard."

Martin remained quiet for some time, pondering to himself. "Maybe after this he'll finally take a serious interest in BSPR."

"Maybe, but you can't push him. The more you push the more he'll resist." Luella sighed and sank her head back into the pillow. "I'm glad Lin will stay with him. I was so nervous when he insisted he come to Japan by himself." She closed her eyes. "How can I ever say no to that boy?" She murmured to herself, and her husband didn't answer.

Luella opened her eyes and shifted to look at her husband, who was fiddling with his mobile phone and setting the alarm for the next morning. "I suppose I'm just overreacting," she began slowly. "But I can't shake the feeling that something isn't right, Martin. I think they're keeping something from us."

Martin stiffened, eyes widening with sudden apprehension. "That girl—Mai Taniyama—she couldn't possibly be—"

"No, Martin. I don't think that's it." Luella looked at her hand, turning her wedding ring nervously around her finger. "I don't think Noll would lie if Mai was actually pregnant. It's not something he could hide from us."

"True," her husband agreed. "Lin—I don't quite understand why he didn't tell us that Noll's taken interest in a girl. Probably Noll threatened him not to say anything and he didn't see any reason why not to go along with it. But I'm certain we can trust him to tell us that." He sighed. "I never thought we'd have to worry about these kinds of things with them." Martin gave a wan smile to his wife. "I'd rather deal with Noll's poltergeisting than have to worry about him and girls."

"It's not a bad thing he's interested in girls, Martin."

He shook his head to himself. "I suppose he is a teenaged boy. I don't know why this is so surprising."

"It certainly feels like it came out of the blue." Luella sighed and dropped her hands back to the soft comforter. "At least we can trust Noll to be a little more careful than Gene. He's more cautious by nature."

Martin snorted quietly. "Maybe. I'm glad we're here now, and that Noll's coming back to England with us. I'll have to make it clear to Lin that he's to keep a close eye on Gene." He frowned. "Rationalizing that they'll get married—I can only imagine he's using it as an excuse. I'll not have either of my sons engaging in such behavior—not yet, not while I can help it." He shook his head. "They're much too young for that."

Luella remained quiet, not wanting to tell her husband it was clear to her that Noll had already developed a sexual relationship with the girl. The thought made her uneasy—after all, she wondered, what parent can think about their adolescent child having intercourse without being uneasy?—but it had already happened and there was nothing she could do to go back and change it. "I don't think he's rationalizing anything, Martin. Remember when we gave them the talk when they hit puberty? Or tried to." She couldn't help but smile at the memory. "He knows what boys his age are going through, but he's never understood it or felt it for himself. I don't think Noll's even once had a crush on a girl," she continued. "And he's always so serious. I suppose it makes sense that he would think they'll get married."

"It's too soon," Martin muttered, setting his mobile on the bedside table and turning off the lamp. "I don't want him to be thinking about marriage yet."

Luella bit her lip, snuggling closer to her husband in the darkness. "I want to protect him," she murmured quietly. "Noll already holds the world at an arm's length. If something doesn't work out with this girl..."

"I can't help but hope it doesn't. I'm not ready for that."

"Martin," she admonished. "Don't say that."

"Well, it's true," he replied gruffly. "I'm not ready to give my son up just yet."

"Yes," Luella giggled. "You're already overprotective enough of our boys. Heaven forbid they were girls, Martin, you'd never let them out of your sight."

...

The apartment was entirely quiet but for the wind that howled against the windows. The soft murmurings from his parents in the adjacent room had quieted some time ago and Lin had finished washing up in the bathroom, the light in the hall clicking off and disappearing from the crack under the door as the man retreated to the living room. Naru was nearly asleep when his brother's voice pulled him from his almost-slumber.

"Noll?"

He opened his eyes, blinking into the darkness and listening intently. "What is it?"

"It's Sarah," Gene murmured sleepily. "I think she knows."

---

A/N:

So, yeah, the twins and Luella speak French but abbq does not. Many many thanks to furiouskittenn for helping me out with le français! It's not really that pertinent to this chapter but:

Maintenant, mon cher frère, ce ne serait pas une disgrâce (Now, my dear brother, wouldn't that be a shame)

Sérieusement, tu sais à quel point il aurait été à Luella, tu as jamais parlé avec elle comme ça (Seriously, you know what it would have meant to Luella for you to speak to her like this.)

I don't think I've ever obsessed so much about a chapter before. This was almost twice/three times as long, but it seemed a convenient place to chop it off (and I have to revise/rewrite significant portions of what would have been the second half, not to mention you've all waited long enough.) I suppose at this point I've learned that I should never make promises about what's coming up in chapters, because all of this (gesturing above) wasn't (originally) supposed to take this long (or go this way at all, really) and the appearances I said would happen in part xiii have been put off yet again (but I'm pretty sure it'll be in the next part... pretty sure.)

You can blame Martin and Luella coming to Japan for the lateness of this chapter. They were surprisingly difficult. (Especially Martin.)

This chapter happened because of Not Hardly Charlotte and Meepyonnee; a million thanks and gratitude for all of their perception, thoughts and insights, and Meepyonnee, who ended up turning into my beta, for which I am eternally grateful. I implore you to read their stories! They're vastly different writers in style and content but I adore them both very much. Plus, you'll need something to tide you over until my next update. Whenever that may be. (Hopefully not too long.)

Longest author's note ever (for me, anyway). Until next time, my friends, adieu.